Good morning!
I enjoyed a delicious bowl of vegan overnight oats this morning. I made this batch heavier on the chia seeds and lighter on the oats just for a fun change.
Mango Blueberry Vegan Overnight Oats
Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup oats
- 2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 cup almond milk
- 1/2-1 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup mango
- 1/4 cup blueberries
- Seeds/nuts for sprinkling (I used roasted sunflower seeds)
Directions: In a small bowl mix together the oats, chia seeds, almond milk, chopped mango, blueberries and maple syrup. Place in fridge overnight or for at least 1 hour to allow for the seeds and oats to soak up the milk. When you are ready to eat, top with any other desired toppings and serve.
Mango in the oats = awesome.
A Vegan In Paris
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Last week, I told you about my upcoming trip to Paris during the 3rd week of September with OSGMOM and my sister Kristi. I said I would talk about how I will eat while in Paris, especially considering that French cuisine is far from vegan.
I actually laughed as I typed this last sentence because French cuisine is pretty much the antithesis of vegan eating. It is quite funny to think about.
You know what though, I’m cool with that. Just because I eat a vegan diet doesn’t mean that I think everyone should eat like I do. I understand that all cuisines are different and have certain characteristics that define them, and it just so happens that French cuisine has a lot of cheese, cream, butter, pastries, and meat!
My plan is to have fun like I always do with food and to not worry about it. I want to soak up the culture while in Paris and if that means I have to occasionally soak up some melted chocolate on my croissant then so be it. ;)
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Technically speaking, I will have no ‘plan’ going to Paris. I think it’s more fun that way.
Long gone are the days when I used to worry, stress, or obsess about what I eat. Food is fun in my life and I plan on keeping it that way while in Paris. I will roll with the punches and have a good time with it.
Obviously there will be occasions when it is not possible to eat vegan, and I am not going to worry about it. I ate non-vegan for 25 years of my life after all. As far as eating meat-free goes, I don’t think that will be a problem. It’s pretty easy to find or ask for meat-free dishes at restaurants. I just need to learn how to say that in French. ;)
My plan is to have fun…AND bring you along for the journey!
Like I said, I could come home a coffee-drinking, croissant lovin, bon-bon eating non-vegan.
I can’t be sure.
Or I may not come home at all.
Do you have any special diet preferences or needs (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, sugar-free, wheat-free, nut-free, etc) and have you had to accommodate them while on vacation or away from home? Have you ever had to ‘go hungry’ because of an allergy like gluten or nuts, when there were no options available for you?
Luckily I do not have any food allergies (I have been tested for everything), just sensitivities. My doctor thinks I have IBS. Foods like dairy, nuts, and high-fat foods can be problematic for my stomach in large quantities, so I try to be mindful of this when eating.
i am a HUGE fan of the “no plan” plan and i can’t wait to follow along on your trip, it will be amazing!
i thought i would try to offer some advice – i’ve been to paris once, france twice, and europe several times, and i might warn you that the parisians in particular are not, erm, exactly big fans of Americans. they usually laugh or mock when you try to speak french to them, if they don’t ignore you alltogether. asking for something specific on a menu, while they may be used to it with the massive amounts of other american tourists you KNOW they’ve met, may not go over so well with the waiter. of course, i don’t mean to generalize an entire huge city of people and you will still have an absolutely wonderful experience and meet a lot of wonderful, nice people as well, but I just thought I would put it out there that there may be some, um, unforeseen difficulties. Making your no-plan plan a GREAT idea!! can’t wait to see all that beautiful french food!!!
I also have sensitive tummy issues that always seem to flare up more when I am on vacation than when I am home. Can I suggest that you go to a vitamin store and pick up a bottle of activated charcoal tablets to take with you? They are pretty inexpensive (about $9 a bottle) and I just take 2 when I eat something high fat or I start to feel uncomfortable rumblings. It soaks up a lot of the offending gunk in my digestive system (No, I am not a scientist so you get my very unscientific descriptions…LOL!) and makes me feel a million and one times better. Since I had my gallbladder out at age 21 I have dealt with IBS and a generally wacky digestive system since then so I am always learning new ways to help it out (in addition to just generally eating healthy and clean). Also, if you are going to be indulging in any of that wonderful French wine the charcoal tablets to wonders on hangovers…I’m just sayin’ :-)
My husband has chrons and must follow a strict diet. My tip is to pack plenty of snacks you can eat in cade you get in a bind where you have no other healthy options.
Good for you! I hope you have a fun and worry-free trip. I can’t wait to follow along with you!
you HAVE to try a Macaron at LaDuree (on the Champs Elysees, close to the Arc de Triomphe) http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/produits/macarons_accueil.htm
you might find difficult to make your choice (so many different flavours) but I think it’s a “food” to try in Paris ;o)
I’m actually VERY strict about eating vegan. I chose to eat this way for several reasons and I’m not willing to compromise at all. I would rather go hungry or stick to my Larabars, trail mix, granola stash than to eat something with animal products in it. Ever since I can remember my Mother has been on one diet or another. She always makes exceptions for “special occasions”. This is exactly why she is constantly dieting. Everything is a special occasion whether it’s a vacation or someone’s birthday or whatever. That said, it is your choice what to put into your body. I’ve read more than once that people in Paris aren’t very tolerant of Americans. I’ve also read that most Americans are preceived as rude (whether they are or aren’t I don’t know). So I’m not sure how much help you will get in restaurants. So good luck!
Good thing Angela’s Canadian then, huh? ;-)
good thing she’s canadian!
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/ten-days-in-paris-recipe.html
I was in Paris just last week and found that my regular vegan diet seemed almost impossible at times. I would go to resturants and they would ask me fish or meat-I was like EEK, oh no! Once I would say vegetarian they would bring me a plate with something covered in cheese, but I needed to eat so I eat. Something I did often was go to the grocery store and get a bag of fruit! You should probbly google some vegan resturants just as a back up plan!
Eating out is such a pain sometimes. I have a really sensetive stomach (cheese, oil, grease, etc.) so finding somewhere to eat is hard – and I get really tired of salads. I try not to be picky when I’m with others but having a gut ache the rest of the evening so isn’t worth it.
Interesting post! How long are you going to Paris for?? Very exciting. And I love that you are embracing change!
How do you feel about writing about your past and being so open on your blog with regards to friends and family who know you? Did you find it …I don’t know…”embarassing” to admit to your previous struggles with food, etc…do they think it’s still a bit of an “obsession” now with your focus on this blog?
It’s wonderfully done by the way! And you are beautiful!
I usually try to eat one or two of my daily meals that follow more closely to my diet (whole foods, VERY little processed, a little meat’s ok, no dairy), but allow myself to break from my rules a little since it is so hard to eat the way I like when travelling, especially out of the country. I know how my body reacts when it gets food it’s not used to anymore, and even though I’ll end up with a meat dish, I take it easy. Life’s too short to follow strict rules, it’s ok to change it up once in a while as long as you don’t overdo it – I learned that the hard way with many a night of indigestion after eating foods I shouldn’t have!
Sounds like a good non-plan! I can’t wait to see all the pictures when you go :)
I am so glad to see you wrote about this! On my honeymoon last week, I had difficult choices to make as far as my eating habits were concerned. I currently follow a pretty vegan lifestyle, but I am also gluten and corn intolerant. Most of my vegetarian options at my resort were gluten or corn laden, so I had to bite the bullet and eat seafood for a couple of days. Did it kill me? No. Was my tummy a little unhappy? Yes, but I got over it. It was hard to do, but I didn’t want to starve and let worrying about my restricted diet get in the way of my trip!
I think it is awesome that you are taking such a laid back approach to eating while visiting Paris. Being in an unfamiliar place can be intimidating (but also REALLY exciting!) enough without having to think about how difficult it will be to find something vegan to eat. Trying to eat entirely vegan in a place like Paris could create stress in a situation that should be fun and enjoyable. What a wonderful way to approach it Angela! Though I don’t typically eat any dairy products, I admit that a chocolate filled croissant found its way into my stomach. And it was wonderful! Lukcily, I don’t have any allergens that have prevented me from indulging in the cuisine of another land.
I’m sure you will have a wonderful time in Paris, even if it’s not entirely vegan! Enjoy!!!
I think your plan for Paris is a great one! You are going on my DREAM trip you lucky girl! I cannot wait to get to Paris and experience all that it has to offer..including the food! You are going to have such a great time and I cannot wait to read all about it!
i’m a vegan, but i spent a month in buenos aires, argentina. if you don’t know, that’s pretty much the meat capital of the world. it’s basically impossible to find something substantial to eat in most restaurants without meat and/or dairy. so i had to break my veganness for a month and ate my fair share of cheese, ice cream, and butter (and red wine).
but let me tell you, i had the time of my life. it’s not about what you’re eating or not eating, it’s about the experiences you have and people you meet! you’re going to have so much fun; enjoy it!
You found no vegan food to eat in Buenos Aires so you were forced to eat…. Ice cream?
i figured i might as well live it up if i was going to eat cheese anyway. how do i turn down ice cream with my friends after a meal of cheese? sorry, i’m vegan?
I am so excited about your upcoming trip Angela ! I am sure that Paris will be beautiful and this trip with your family and close ones will be unforgettable :) As far as your little non vegan challenge for this trip I really like your attitude towards this situation and how you’ve handeled it. I just recently went on vacation to Mexico with my family and had to compensate my meat free lifestyle a couple times during night out to steakhouses and other places. I could’ve chosen to not eat a meal with my family or order something meat free,which were only plain salads :(, but my stomach was just too hungry to skip a meal and I ended up eating some chicken and fish. It wasn’t all that difficult but when there’s no other choice but to either starve or eat I simply choose to comply for the time being and enjoy myself and spending times with my loved ones :)
What a great attitude about vacation. I try to eat whole foods, minimal processing and no dairy. My body works best with those “rules” in mind. But sometimes on vacation you just have to throw the rules out the window for a while and have an ice cream cone!
Although there have been plenty of days where I’ve been “hungry” because I didn’t have as much food because of my limitations!
As I typed before, I was vegan in France with no problem. The only situation that was tough was when I wanted food outside the hours restaurants were open, but I got by.
I think you are missing the opportunity to really educate people that there is no reason to compromise their ethics or health while away from home. I understand you don’t want to “worry” about food, but honestly, you have a much better chance of getting a vegan meal in France than in some places in America or Canada I assume. They love their vegetables.
I agree.I find your attitude kind of confusing to say the least.I’m sure you can be a vegan in France.I mean are you a vegan because of your animal beliefs or not?Animals suffer in all countries,it dosen’t stop because your on vacation.I’m sorry but right now I find you to be the biggest hypocrite.I mean why not just call your self a vegetarian,parttime vegan?I have read about many other vegan bloggers not giving up they’re convictions while they are on vacation.And know I’m not a vegan but I also don’t call myself one either.
I’ve been reading this blog for awhile and I might be wrong but I think alot of Angela’s living a vegan lifestyle has to do with health/digestive reasons and the fact that being vegan parallels her love for animals is a nice bonus. It’s her prerogative to do what she wants on vacation, either way. I don’t think this is about convictions or being a hypocrite at all.
Have fun in Paris. I just got back and we had a great time. It may be hard to do vegan, but it was not hard to do vegetarian. I do eat dairy and eggs, so I found plenty to enjoy while I was there. The one thing that I did not like so much was the insane amount of tourists. I do highly recommend the Museum Pass if you plan to see even a few on the list because you do not have to wait in ticket lines, only security if they have it and if not, you just walk right in. Getting to Versailles was very easy too and on the Pass.
The Cafe de Flore you have posted here is pretty well known, but we went to Cafe Le Flor, which sounds the same and was good, but different from the well known one. There are cafes everywhere so there are tons of places available. If you are curious, you can check out my blog, I was there about 2 weeks ago and blogged about the food and sights. Have a great time.